Chemical weapons are a bad thing. But it always seems a little strange that killing 70 people with a chemical crosses a line that killing thousands of people by more traditional means does not. It turns out that it even matters which specific chemicals were used. “If the US finds that a nerve agent such as sarin was used instead of chlorine, or if nerve agents were mixed in with chlorine, retaliatory attacks against Assad regime targets may be bigger and more severe.”

+ Deciding to remain in the White House to plan a response to the Syrian chemical attack, Trump has canceled his first trip to Latin America as president.